Midroll Media Announces New Shows Including Rosie O’Donnell Podcast

Midroll Media announced a number of new podcasts it will be adding to its umbrella in the coming months.

Midroll’s Earwolf podcast network will debut a new show this fall hosted by Rosie O’Donell. Earwolf, which has expanded beyond its origins as a comedy network with the addition of shows from the likes of Katie Couric, will also expand into true crime with “Stranglers” focusing on the thirteen Boston Strangler killings.

Miroll will also serve as the ad seller for new shows by Entertainment Weekly, American Public Media, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. EW will launch “What to Watch” this week focusing on what’s new on television and streaming platforms. American Public Media is moving its existing “Brains On” science podcast to Midroll’s ad sales until and will debut “Make Me Smart” in 2017 as a spinoff of the public radio show “Marketplace”. Tyson will launch his second podcast “Playing With Science” in 2017 in addition to his existing “StarTalk Radio”.

Midroll Media, the leader in podcast creation, advertising and distribution, today unveiled a new slate of podcasts to agency and brand executives at the IAB Podcast Upfront event.

Midroll is now the advertising rep firm for more than 300 top-rated podcasts, presenting the largest reach for advertisers that want to tap into the podcast industry’s valuable demographics. Midroll represents 20 percent of the iTunes Top 100, more than its next three competitors combined, said Lex Friedman, chief revenue officer.

“Our ability to offer advertisers custom, host-read spots on some of the largest podcasts in the world is unrivaled,” said Friedman. “Advertisers are consistently surprised and delighted with the measureable impact of the spots we sell across Midroll’s impressive network of shows. And we continue to announce incredible new shows with tremendous advertiser — and listener — appeal.”

New opportunities in podcast advertising

The valuable new content joining Midroll’s roster includes the recently launched “Katie Couric” podcast and new upcoming series with Rosie O’Donnell and Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

Marc Maron, host of the popular “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast and a longtime client of Midroll’s podcast advertising business, joined Friedman on stage to discuss the benefits of podcast advertising through the medium’s popular and effective host-read ads.

“Midroll has been a great partner for ‘WTF,’ so I’m thrilled to join them onstage at the IAB Podcast Upfront,” said Maron. “We always knew it was a good idea to partner with Midroll as ‘WTF’ and podcasting in general grew like crazy, but we didn’t really anticipate the huge roster of top advertisers we’ve been able to work with. We trust Midroll with the business side of things, and they’ve already told me that 2017 will sell out faster on ‘WTF’ than any year prior.”

Editor Chris Ryan from Bill Simmons’ The Ringer Podcast Network talked about the benefits of working with Midroll to grow their podcast business through advertising. Midroll exclusively represents all of the network’s shows, including “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” which averages well over a half-million downloads per episode.

Friedman also was joined onstage by Couric, who recently launched her popular news and talk podcast, “Katie Couric” on Midroll’s Earwolf network. And he announced that actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell is bringing her new talk-show podcast to the network this fall.

In November, Earwolf will launch “Stranglers,” a compelling crime-genre podcast delving into the infamous Boston Strangler killings. Twelve of the 13 murders remain open cases, and the show will delve into the murders’ many uncertainties — including the number of killers involved.

Other new shows previewed for the ad-buying community included:
Entertainment Weekly’s “What to Watch,” which launches on Friday and covers what’s new and worthwhile on TV and streaming, including interviews with stars and showrunners

American Public Media’s “Brains On,” the established science podcast for curious kids and adults, and “Make Me Smart,” a podcast premiering in early 2017 with hosts Kai Ryssdal and Molly Wood of “Marketplace” featuring intelligent, relaxed conversation on topics that influence business, culture and our everyday lives

“Playing with Science,” a show from popular astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil deGrasse Tyson that debuts in early 2017. Tyson’s popular “StarTalk Radio” podcast is downloaded an average of 500,000 times per episode.

For more information about advertising opportunities with Midroll, email adinquiries@midroll.com.

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Lance Venta is the Owner and Publisher of RadioInsight.com and a consultant for RadioBB Networks specializing in integration of radio and the internet. Lance has two decades of experience tracking the audio industry and its use of digital platforms.